One injured in Merced apartment fire

A Merced man suffered minor injuries Wednesday afternoon when flames and smoke filled the living room of his apartment.

The victim, whose name was not available, was taken to an area hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, the Merced Fire Department said. No other injuries were reported.

Merced firefighters responded at 4:01 p.m. when fire broke out in his home, part of a quadplex at 329 W. 11th St. in south Merced. Battalion fire Chief Shawn Henry said the man was preparing food when he heard his smoke detector and found flames burning in his living room.

“It spread to the attic and we had smoke in some of the other units,” Henry said. “We’re having city building services evaluate whether (residents) will be able to go back to other units.”

Henry said it was possible residents from all four units would not be able to return home Wednesday. The exact number of residents potentially affected by the fire was unclear.

Sixteen Merced city firefighters knocked down the flames and cleared the housing complex.

Henry said it was too early to know how the fire started, but said the cause does not appear suspicious.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 5:20 PM with the headline "One injured in Merced apartment fire."